This rifle started out as a new Remington 700 BDL 30-06
in Dec 1983. It was immediately rebarreled to 25-06 Rem.
in Jan 1984. I chose a Shillen Stainless Steel barrel for the
project. I have been altering and customizing the rifle since
that time. I rechambered the rifle to 25-06 Ackley Improved
in 1999. This is the finished project.

I stocked it in a piece of Cherry from an old dead tree that I cut down with my chainsaw behind my father-in-law's home. The grip cap and forend are from pieces of Black Walnut from the same area.
I did the checkering in 22 lpi french checkering with floral border carving and a small border carving and my initials on the rearward section of the buttstock. A brown Pachmeyer recoil pad with black spacer were added to complete the project.

The front of the 25.25 inch Shillen barrel. Ported by Magna-Port to reduce muzzle lift after rechambering it to 25-06 AI. This did not have an effect on accuracy or velocity.

A picture of the bolt. I ported it similar to the Weatherby rifles to vent gasses away from the shooter's face in the event of a primer rupture.

The volume of the 25-06 AI case is about 8% greater than
the 25-06 Rem., yet it produces nearly 10% more velocity.

The 25-06 Ackley Improved is formed by fireforming standard 25-06 Rem. ammo.The case will expand to fit the chamber and then can be loaded as a 25-06 AI cartridge. After fireforming, I normally just neck size the case prior to loading. Due to the 40 degree shoulder, case length seldom increases after firing the case several times. This is because the brass doesn't flow as easily as it does with cartridge cases of less shoulder angle and more body taper. The one problem that I've had is that a lot of new factory brass cases are undersized and when firing tend to stretch too much in the web area of the case. I've found that the cases come out much better when I use 270 Win. cases and use a 25-06 Rem. sizing die and sizing the 270 case until it fits my chamber quite snuggly. I've never had any problems with cases formed in this manner. Not one damaged case in the process.